Pardew awaits Newcastle star’s return

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is expecting Fabricio Coloccini to return to the first team within two weeks after recovering from injury.

Coloccini picked up a back injury in the game against Southampton a few weeks back after attempting an acrobatic clearance during the first half.

He missed the Swansea game at the weekend and he will miss Thursday’s Europa League game against Anzhi Makhachkala.

And Magpies boss Pardew hopes that he will have the player back in a couple of weeks, reiterating that he is vital to the team.

“I don’t think it’s that worrying, but it is a back injury, so we have to be careful,” Pardew told Sky Sports.

“I think a couple of weeks.”

Pardew will be likely to replace Coloccini with new signing Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and play him alongside Steven Taylor in central defence in Moscow.

The Argentine almost left the Tyneside club in January as he was having some family issues, but after Newcastle threatened him with disciplinary action, Coloccini spoke with Pardew and he decided to stay until the summer.

The Magpies are currently fighting to get further up the Premier League table and away from the relegation battle occurring at the bottom of the English top flight.